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Rod Ziegler was born July 23, 1949, in Stratton to Rueben and Mary Ellen Ziegler. He was the second oldest of the four siblings that included Sandra, Jackie, and Stuart. However, Rod would only claim one sister, joking the other belonging to Stuart. Rod and Stuart had a special bond, having fifteen years difference, they ended up being two peas in a pod. Rod was the best brother, no one could ever replace him.

Rod graduated from Cheyenne Wells High School in 1967. Being his ornery self, he was presented with two choices, either join the military or head in a different path. He chose to join the Navy and served as a Boatswains Mate from 1968 to 1972. One of his favorite stories was how a buddy of his took the swim test under the name of Rod Ziegler in exchange for Rod testing out on his buddy’s gun test. The swim test consisted of having to jump off a ship into the ocean, swim to a marker and back. Rod Ziegler passed the swim test no problem according to Navy records; the secret is Rod never learned how to swim. Rod took pride in being a veteran, and was a lifetime member of the William A. Kimmel VFW Post 9700 in Cheyenne Wells. There are many fond memories made spending time at the VFW and his shop on main street. He was always there to have fun and lend an ear to his friends and military brothers and sisters.

After serving in the Navy, Rod returned to Cheyenne Wells, where he met the love of his life. Taking a random cruise, he came across Mary Frances Schmidt, and asked her to go riding around with him and friends instead of meeting up with hers as she had planned. She agreed, and even though he told her to ride in the back with his other friend, Mary was persistent and finally won over his heart. They married December 16, 1972. With that marriage Rod was blessed with an immediate son, Ricky Wayne. On July 11, 1973, the three of them were blessed with Timothy Shawn, making the family complete.

Rod was a great, loving father and extended that to all kids, no matter who they were. He can be remembered for being the leader of the pack in the red Ford Thunderbird, driving kids to away games. He always made things fun, and possibly a little scary, like the trip to Granada for a game with Tim, Mike (Skip) Halde, Chad Bogenhagen, and Tony Nelson in the back seat, and Mary as a passenger. Rod somehow managed to take the sharp 20 mph curve in Sheridan Lake going at least 40 mph, sliding thru with Mary yelling “ROD!” and the boys giggling in the back. A dad move anyone would be proud of. He attended every sporting event from elementary through the boys’ high school years, and loved every one of their classmates.

Rod can also be remembered being seen in the Gold Flake Ford pickup with the lady ornament on the hood, ducktail hair in perfect form, shades on, smile on his face, waving at everyone as they pass. That Ford truck spent many snow days pulling a hood sled loaded with his boys, nephews, nieces, and willing adults for hours at a time. He insisted on driving, but allowed Mary to drive once. After she threw him and Stuart, Rod thought maybe he broke a leg. Once he was able to get up, he said she was never driving again.

Rod was a hard worker, a consistent joker, loved fishing and camping, spot-on nickname-giver, and was always fun to be around. He was good at all the above. He was so good at joking around that, when he cut his fingers off and went to the hospital to get help, they giggled at first until they realized he was serious. True to himself, Rod found humor in his new wave with two shortened fingers from the accident.

Rod’s working days started alongside his father-in-law, Francis Schmidt, hauling water, and then at a filling station. He had a short stint bartending at the High Chaparral. The remainder of his time was spent in construction, first with Bob Marolf, and then with his own company, RZ Construction. This is where he spent much time working alongside his son, Tim, teaching and passing on his love of construction, enough for him to become successful in his own career. Rick said their dad raised his boys with three lifelong lessons: treat people the way you would want to be treated; believe and live by God, family and country; and don’t take $#%! from nobody. Rick is proud to pass this along to his son. Mary said advice he gave to any boy leaving the house - Don’t get married!

After living a life of hard work, fun, community service, being a great family man, and friend, Rod passed away October 14, 2025, at the Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Ziegler (Cheyenne Wells); sons, Ricky Ziegler (Ponder, TX) and Timothy Ziegler (Westminster); sisters, Sandra Bennett (Pueblo West) and Jackie (Larry) Mahlberg (Lucas, Texas), brother, Stuart (Amy) Ziegler (Cheyenne Wells); granddaughters, Amy and Kayla; grandson; Dylan; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends.

Rod is preceded in death by father, Rueben; mother, Mary Ellen; grandparents Belts; grandparents, Zieglers; father-in-law, Francis Schmidt; mother-in-law, Armella Schmidt; brother-in-law, Larry Bennett; and nephew; Thomas Unruh.

Funeral services will be held at the Grace Lutheran Church in Cheyenne Wells October 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Cheyenne Wells.

Donations may be made to the Rod Ziegler Memorial at The Eastern Colorado Bank.

Visitation and funeral services were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.